“I felt that I was up to the challenge,” Melissa Vander Plas about her new job as the director of the Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce. Melissa grew up on a small farm just northeast of Harmony, graduated from Harmony High School, and has lived the last 20 years in Harmony. When Melissa saw the posting for the Chamber director job, it seemed too opportune to pass up. “I … [Read more...]
Articles by Hannah Wingert
Reporter
hannah@fillmorecountyjournal.com
After barn collapse, North-Creek Dairy has hope for the future
“It was the first time in 116 years we weren’t milking a cow,” Corey Hoffman of North-Creek Dairy said. After the blizzard in late February 2019, Corey, a fourth generation farmer, and his family thought they were going to have to shut down their dairy farm near Chatfield for good. “I was heartbroken,” he said. It started at about 1 a.m. on February 24. An 80’x100’ section … [Read more...]
Fountain artist decorates Harmony windows for fall
Art and window painting has always been a part of Geri Hanson’s life. Her father owned a gas station in La Crosse and, when she was a child, she often helped him paint the windows with decorative pictures. Geri’s mother was artistic as well. “My mom was incredibly crafty and painted a lot,” Geri said. One of Geri’s recent projects was painting the windows of various … [Read more...]
Fillmore Central Board reviews audit report
At the October 22 Fillmore Central School Board meeting, Kali Olstad from Smith & Shafer presented the audit report for 2018-19. Olstad reported an unmodified, clean opinion for the audit. The average daily membership currently stands at 616 students. “These numbers are what drive your funding,” Olstad noted. For 2018-19, the district showed 9.6 million in revenues which is … [Read more...]
Hands-free law solutions at Main Street Wireless
“It was assumed that it was coming,” Lee Novotny, owner of Main Street Wireless in Chatfield, said of the hands-free driving law that went into effect in Minnesota on August 1, 2019. According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, Minnesota is the 20th state in the US to pass a hands-free law. Novotny was not surprised. “I think it was an obvious one that it was … [Read more...]
Filthy 50 bike race celebrates first year in Lanesboro
“Race it and set a record. Ride it and take in the beauty. Either way, get filthy,” Trenton Raygor quoted. He was referring to the Filthy 50 bike race that took place in Lanesboro on October 12. This was the bike ride’s seventh consecutive year, but the first in Lanesboro. The previous six were held in Stewartville where Raygor grew up and his parents still live. Trenton’s … [Read more...]
Lanesboro school continues to prepare for upcoming facilities project
At the October 14 Lanesboro School Board meeting, the Finance, Facilities, and Long-Range Planning Committee reported that the substantial completion date for the facilities project was moved from the beginning of September 2020 to the last day of that month instead. The hope is that the extended timeline will bring prices down and be more flexible for the contractors. Bids … [Read more...]
Public hearing held to discuss 2020 Harmony street project
A public hearing was held at the beginning of the October 8 Harmony City Council meeting. Over 30 Harmony residents were present. City Engineer Brett Grabau reviewed the areas of improvement within the project and the specifications of each one before opening up for questions. The nine areas include 1st Avenue from Center Street to the dead end at 6th Street, 3rd Street from … [Read more...]
Lanesboro business owners ask city to review alley deterioration
At the October 7 Lanesboro City Council meeting, Michael Seiler and Liz Bucheit from Crown Trout Jewelers requested that the council consider the state of the alley behind their business. “At this point, everything is deteriorating,” Seiler stated, adding that the gas lines and internet lines run under the alley and are at risk of being exposed. He asked that the city engineer … [Read more...]
4-H members enjoy time at Minnesota State Fair
Each year, members of 4-H from all over the state travel to the Minnesota State Fair to show their animals and projects. This year was no exception for Fillmore Central High School seniors Morgan Wingert and Garrett Aggen. Both have been a part of 4-H for many years and have participated in numerous fairs, both county and state. Morgan shows dairy cattle and Garrett shows … [Read more...]